2018 UMAMU Estate Chardonnay *Current release*

97 points (4.5*/5) Winestate Magazine 

94 points James Halliday

92 points The Wine Advocate Robert Parker, Joe Czerwinski 

91 points Huon Hooke The Real Review

Dear UMAMU family,

It was a Chardonnay from the Margaret River that brought my parents to fall in love with this stunning wine region in Western Australia back in the 1980s, and our own vineyard in the late 90s. So we are immensely proud to release our own Margaret River Hallmark Chardonnay 2018 from 20-year old vines that Dad planted. 

The vineyard was blessed with ideal growing and ripening conditions in 2018. Weather was close to average and very typical of Margaret River's mediterranean climate, cool wet winter and mild dry summer. Harvest decisions were plenty and left to optimise quality.

This wine has been given much hands-on TLC from pruning to leaf plucking to hand harvesting. Hand harvesting gives us ultimate selection of grapes and thus quality. We harvest in bunches so the fruit skin is not punctured (compared to machine harvesting which harvests each grape off the stem) and left intact and there is no juice contact with skin, preventing unwanted phenolic (contributes to bitterness) being picked up. Fruit can then be chilled down post harvest and pressed cold which is ideal. Gentle pressing of the whole bunch using stalks to assist drainage and reduce extraction of phenolics makes for a fine Chardonnay. Of course the balance to this is the much higher costs for labour and time. Hand picking has been an annual ritual!  

Read how Mum & Dad came to Margaret River here: UMAMU Estate Chardonnay – Why Margaret River makes best Chardonnay in Australia 

Enjoy wine pairing? Why not try our Chardonnay with Bouillabaisse Seafood Stew?

Check out our vertical tasting of six vintages of Chardonnay and our mix pack all 91 points and above.

If you would like a combination of our wines that is not listed on our cart or for delivery outside Australia, please contact us on umamu@umamuestate.com. 

Cheers!

Reviews

94 James Halliday

"Gleaming straw-green; a lusciously rich chardonnay, all its wares laid out before you. It needs food, but will happily accompany every dish."

92 The Wine Advocate Robert Parker, Joe Czerwinski

"UMAMU's 2018 Chardonnay was 100% barrel fermented yet shows little overt oak, allowing the ripe pear, melon and citrus flavors to shine. It's medium to full-bodied, with a plump, ample richness on the palate and a long, silky finish."

91 Huon Hooke The Real Review

"Bright, light yellow-green hue. The aromas are passionfruit, herb and grapefruit, with pungent fruit leading the charge. The wine is likewise passionfruity on the palate, lively and zesty, with green-lime acidity and moderate length. A tickle of sweetness is more than compensated by crisp acidity and there's a pleasant touch of firmness at the finish."

Tasting Notes